Manufacture of expanded metal



July 12, 1927.

1,635,662 J. H- DEAN MANUFACTURE OF EXPANDED METAL I Filed July 26, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheetl 1,635,662 y 2' 1927' J. H. DEAN MANUFACTURE OF EXPANDED METAL Filed July 26, 1926 3 heetrS-Sheet 3 1,635,662 July 12 1927. J. H DEAN MANUFACTURE OF EXPANDED METAL Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,635,662 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. DEAN, F LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR I TO NORTHWESTERN EX- PANDED METAL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

MANUFACTURE OF Application filed July 26,

The present invention relates to the manufacture of expanded sheet-metal and seeks to provide an improved method and apparatus for making metal lath having expanded diamond mesh panels extending longitudinally of the sheet between unexpanded strips or ribs. Heretofore, in the manufacture of this type of expanded metal by passing previously slitted sheets through suitable rolls and guides, it has been considered necessary, in order to expand the panels by bending and without materially stretching the strands, to spread or separate the unslitted strips and deflect each of the panels from one fixed plane to another. Usually the rows of strands and inte ral connecting bonds in the slitted panels 0 the sheet are oppositely inclined in adjacent panels and the expansion is effected by deflecting the stripsor some of them transversely of the plane of the sheet to spread the strips apart and bring the sheet into troughed or corrugated form with the expanded panels disposed in transversely and oppositelyinclined planes. After the slitted panels are thus expanded the sheet is flattened by laterally spreading the unslitted strips.

In accordance with the present invention the sheets are slitted in relatively narrow I panels and the expansion is eflected, preferably without separating or increasing the distances between the central portions of the unslitted strips, by progressively turning or twisting the portions of the strips at the sides F of each panel longitudinally; and, in accordance with the preferred practice of the invention, by forming the strips into deep ribs substantially V-shaped in cross-section and projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet, the ribbing of the strips being so effected that the sides of the ribs are inclined in the same direction as the bonds and strands of the adjacent expanded panels. Preferably, the ribs are then flattened and laterally spread or deflected to increase the widths of the strips and of the sheet, and the strips are provided with central stiffening beads or shallow ribs.

The distinctive features of the invention are hereinafter more fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred'form of apparatus employed,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OE ILLINOIS.

EXPANDED METAL;

1926. Serial No. 124,799.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rolls and guides;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rolls and guides;

.Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating the .operation of the rolls for feeding the sheet and for deflecting or shaping the unslitted strips, the sheet operated upon being shown in sections taken on lines at right angles to the direction of its movement; I

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sections illustrating the preferred forms of the guides for the unslitted strips;

' Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the slitted sheet; and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a portion of the finished sheet.

The apparatus employed, in the preferred form shown, comprises a pair of feed rolls 1, three pairs of rolls 2, 3 and 4 which are arranged to engage the strips and form the same into deep V-shaped ribs alternately I projecting in opposite directions, two pairs of rolls 5 and 6 for flattening and centrally beading .the deeply ribbed strips, a pair of feeding and setting rolls 7 and a set of leveling rolls 8. The rolls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are made up of discs and spacing collars mounted on central cores or shafts and the discs of each pair of rolls are provided with correspondingly shaped ribs and grooves for engaging and shaping the unslitted strips of the sheets and for feeding the sheets. Parallel guides 9 for the unslitted strips or ribs of the sheets are provided between the pairs of rolls 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and divergent guides 10 are provided between the rolls 5 and 6 and the rolls 6 and 7. The rolls and guides are mounted in suitable frame work and the rolls are driven by suitable gearing at the same peripheral speed. The frame work and drive gearing are not shown but may be similar to those shown in the prior application of G. W. Baker and James H. Dean filed in the United States Patent Office March 1, 1926, Serial No. 91,564. I

The metal sheets are first cut or slashed, preferably by means of roller dies such as those shown in the application for patent of James H. Dean filed in the United States Patent Office August 14, 1925, Serial No. 50,17 6, to provide rows of inclined slits (see Fig. 11) so as to form strands a between the rows of slits with integral connecting bonds Z) between the slits of each row, such bonds being staggered, that is to say, the bonds of each row of slits are opposite the slits in the adjacent rows. Preferably as shown the slitted panels are relatively quite narrow and are of substantially the same width as the unslitted strips. The slitted panels and the unslitted strips extend longitudinally of the sheet and the bonds and strands of adjacent panels are oppositely inclined. The slitting of the sheets slightly deflects portions of the strands and bonds from the original plane of the sheet and preferably the feed rolls 1 at the front of the machine which initially engage the sheets are so adjusted that they flatten or partially flatten the bonds and strands. These rolls as shown are preferably solid.

The discs or roller dies 0 and 0 of the rolls 2, 3 and 4: are provided with V-shaped grooves and corresponding V-shaped periphcries and serve, as shown in Figs. 3, 4; and 5, to progressively, and preferably in three stages, form the unslitted strips of the sheet into deep V-shaped ribs with the marginal and odd numbered ribs proje cting in one direction from the plane of thesheet and the even numbered ribs in the opposite direction. at the sides of each panel are deflected in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet and are turned or twisted longitudinally to thereby gradually draw apart the side edges of each panel and expand the same. It is noted that in effecting this expansion the bonds and strands "of adjacent panels are oppositely inclined and that the sides of each of the V-shaped ribs are inclined in the same direction as the bonds and strands of the panels into which they merge. That is to say, in effecting the expansion of the panels, the portions of the strips at the sides of each panel and the bonds and strands of such panel are turned from the original plane of the sheet so that they are inclined in the same direction and also at substantially the same angle of inclination. It is further noted that in effecting the expansion of the narrow panels the lateral spacing of the central portions of the unslitted strips is not changed. That is to say, the lateral spacing of the central portions of the strips is maintained uniform and the strips are maintained parallel to one another, to the path of movement of the sheet and to the original plane of the sheet. It is also noted that preferably as shown, the rolls 3, 4.- and 5 are so arranged that the expansion of the panels is effected while maintaining the panels substantially in a common plane and substantially in the original plane of the sheet and without troughing or corrugating the sheet to bring the panels into oppositely and transversely inclined planes as in the prior practice. Nevertheless, as in the prior In this way the portions of the strips practice, the expansion is effected by bending and without materially stretching the strands.

To be sure that there is no material stretching of the strands it is necessary that a slight relative longitudinal movement gloe permitted between adjacent strands. For this reason the discs 0 of the rolls 2, 3 and 4 which engage the marginal and odd numbered strips of these sheets are arranged to grip the strips with sufficient pressure to feed the sheets but the discs 0 which engage the even numbered strips have a slight additional clearance so that they merely serve to shape the even numbered strips and engage them sufficiently loosely to permit the strips to move longitudinally to a slight extent relativelyto theodd numbered strips. The parallel guides 9 leading from the rolls 2, 3 and 4 are provided with passes for the guides corresponding in shape to those of the respective pairs of rolls. The receiving ends of these guides are arranged closely adjacent the rows to properly strip the sheets from the rolls.-

After the expansion has been effected by deflecting or shaping the unslitted strips as described, the latter are preferably flattened and laterally spread to increase the widths of the strips and of the sheets. For this purpose the pairs of rolls 5 and 6 and the deflecting guides 10 are provided. The shaping discs or dies of the rolls 5 partially flatten the strips and those of the rolls 6 further flatten and preferably form the central portions of the strips into stiffening beads or shallow ribs. The flattening of the strips tends to somewhat contract the widths of the expanded panels but any such contraction is compensated for by the divergent guides 10. Indeed, if desired, the divergent guides 10 may be arranged to somewhat additionally expand the panels. Preferably as shown in Fig. 10, one of the members of each of the guides is grooved to receive the correspond ing ribbed strip and the other member of the guide while not ribbed serves to hold the strip in position in such groove. The ribs and grooves of the rolls 7 correspond in shape to those of the rolls 6 and these rolls serve to withdraw the sheets from the divergent deflecting guides 10 and deliver the sheets to the flattening rolls 8. The rolls 7 and 8 serve to straighten the sheets and set the expansion. Preferably also the collars d of the rollers 7 are of such size that, as indicated. in Fig. 8, the strands and bonds are flattened; that is to say, are twisted or pressed toward the plane of the sheet.

Changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panels and unslitted having staggered rows of inclined slits ar ranged in panels, which consists in expandmg the panels by continuously advancing each sheet and progressively twisting the portions of the unslitted strips at the sides of each panel in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet while maintaining the central portion of the strips parallel to one another and to the direction of movement of the sheet.

3. The method of expanding metal sheets having staggered rows of inclined slits arranged in panels, which consists in expanding the panels by continuously advancing each sheetland progressively twisting the portions of the unslitted strips at the sides of each panel in opposite directions from the general plane (E the sheet whilemaintaining the central portion of the strips parallel to one another and to the direction of movement of the sheet, and then twisting the strips back toward the general plane of the sheet and simultaneously deflectmg the same in such plane.

4. The method of expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panels and unslitted strips which c0nsists in effecting the expansion of the slit-ted panels by forming the strips, at the sides of each panel into deep ribsprojecting in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet.

j 5. The method of expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels with unslitted strips at the sides of each panel and with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in efi'ecting the expansion of the slitted panels by progressively deflecting the un slitted strips alternately in opposite direction from the general plane of the sheet to form deep ribs parallel to each other and to the direction of movement of the sheet.

6. The method of expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in progressively deflecting the unslitted strips alternately in opposite direction from the general plane of the sheet to form deep ribs parallel to each other and tothe direction of movement of the sheet, then flattening and laterally spreading the ribbed strips.

7, The method of expanding metal sheets havin inclined rows of staggered slits ar ranged in panels between unslitted strips with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in progressively "deopposite direction from the general plane of flecting the unslitted strips alternately in the sheet to form deep ribs parallel to each other and to the direction of movement of the sheet, then flattening, laterally spreading and centrally beading the ribbed strips.

8. The method of forming expanded metal lath which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and bonds with the rows in, adjacent panels oppositely'inclined, continuously advancing the sheet and effecting the expansion of the slitted panels by progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane ofthe sheet with the sides of the ribs lnclined in the same direction as the bonds and strands of the adjacent panels.

9. The method of forming expanded metal lath which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and bonds lying substantially in the planes of the sheets with the rows in adjacent panels oppositely inclined and then expanding the panels while maintaining the same substantially in the original plane of-the sheet, by progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially V- shaped ribs.

1O. The method of forming expanded metal lath which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and bonds with the rows in adjacent panels oppositely inclined and then expanding the panels while maintaining the same substantially parallel to the original plane of the sheet, by progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially parallel V-shaped ribs with the sides thereof inclined in the same direction as the bonds of the adjacent panels.

11. The method of forming expanded,

metal lath which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and bonds with the rows-in adjacent panels oppositely inclined, expanding the panels while maintaining the same substantially parallel to the originalplane of the sheet, by progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially parallel V-shaped ribs with the sides thereof in clined in the same direction as the bonds of the adjacent panels, then flattening and laterally spreading the strips.

.12. The method of forming expanded metal lath which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and bonds withthe rows in adjacent'panels oppositely inclined, expanding the panels while maintaining the same substantially parallel to the original plane of the sheet, by progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially parallel 'V -shaped ribs with the sides thereof inlTIO clined in the same direction as the bonds of the adjacent panels, then flattening, laterally spreading and centrally beading the strips and flattening the strands and bonds of the expanded panels.

13. The method of forming expanded sheet metal which consists in slitting the sheets in panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and staggered bonds with the rows oppositely inclined in adjacent panels, expanding the slitted panels by bending and without stretching the strands, by continuously advancing the sheet in a direction parallel to its plane, and progressively forming the unslitted strips into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite direction from the general plane of the sheet and permitting a slight relative longitudinal movement between alternate strips.

14. The method of forming expanded metal sheets which consists in slitting the sheets in relatively narrow panels and between unslitted strips to form rows of strands and integral staggered bonds oppositely inclined in adjacent panels and expanding the panels by passing the sheets through roller dies to progressively deflect the portion of the strips at the sides of each panel in opposite direction from the plane of such panel while maintaining the central portion of the strips uniformly spaced and parallel to the original plane of the sheet.

15. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panels and unslitted strips, comprising feeding and forming rolls for engaging the strips and continuously advancing the sheet and for deflecting the portions of the strips at the sides of each panel in opposite directions from the plane of such panel to expand the same while maintaining the central portions of the strips uniformly spaced.

16. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having alternate unslitted strips and staggered rows of inclined slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined;

comprising feeding and forming rolls and cooperating guides for engaging and maintaining the strips uniformly spaced and parallel to the original plane of the sheet and for progressively twisting the portions of the strips at the sides of each panel in opposite directions from the plane of such panel to expand the same, and rolls and guides for then twisting the strips back toward the general plane of the sheet and simultaneously spreading them apart in such plane.

17. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panels and unslitted strips comprising feeding and forming rolls and cooperating guides for engaging the strips to continuously advance thesheet and progressively form the strips into deep ribs alternately projecting in opposite directions fromthe general plane of the sheet and thereby expand the panels.

18. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered ,slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, comprising feeding and forming rolls and cooperating guides arranged to engage the unslitted strips between the panels to continuously advance the sheets and form the strips into deep ribs to thereby expand the panels while maintaining the central portions of the strips uniformly spaced.

19. Apparatus for expanding metal'sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the slits of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, comprising feeding and forming rolls and cooperating guides arranged to engage the unslitted strips between the panels to continuously advance the sheets and form the strips into deep ribs to thereby expand the panels while maintaining the central portions of the strips uniformly spaced, and ad ditional rolls and guides for flattening, laterally spreading and centrally beading the ribbed strips.

20. Apparatus for expanding metalsheets having inclined rows of strands and staggered bonds arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the rows and adjacent panels oppositely inclined, comprising cooperating rolls and guides arranged to engage the strips to continuously advance the sheet and form the strips into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet to thereby expand the panels and incline the bonds and strands of each panel in the same direction as the adjacent side portions of the ribs.

21. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of strands and staggered bonds arranged in panels between unslitted strips with the rows and adjacent panels oppositely inclined, comprising cooperating rolls and guides arranged to engage the strips to continuously advance the sheet and form the strips into substantially V- shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet to thereby expand thepanels while maintaining the same substantially in the original plane of the sheet and additional rolls and deflecting guides for flattening and laterally spreading the V-shaped ribs.

22. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets that are slitted in panels to form rows of strands and staggered bonds oppositely inclined in adjacent panels and between unslitted strips, comprising feeding and forming rolls arranged to engage the marginal and alternate unslitted strips of the sheets to continuously advance the same and form such strips into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting in one direction from the general plane of the sheet, and cooperating forming rolls arranged to engage the other strips of the sheets and form the same into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting in opposite direction from the general plane of the sheet, said last mentioned rolls being adapted to permit a slight relative longitudinal movement of the strips engaged thereb 23. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets that are slitted in panels to form rows of strands and staggered bonds oppositely inclined in adjacent panels and between unslitted strips, comprising feeding and forming rolls arranged to engage the marginal and-alternate unslitted strips of the sheets to continuously. advance the same and form such strips into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting in one direct-ion from the general plane of the sheet, cooperatingforming rolls arranged to engage the other strips of the sheets and form the same into substantially V-shaped ribs projecting in opposite direc tion from the general plane of the sheet, said last mentioned rolls being adapted to permit a sli ht relative longitudinal movement of the strips engaged thereby, and additional feeding rolls and spreading guides for flattening, laterally spreading and centrally beading the strips.

24. The method of expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming inclined rows of strands and integral connecting bonds, which consists in drawing apart the portions of the unslitted strips at the sides of each panel by twisting such portions about longitudinal axes and in oppolsite directions from the plane of the pane 25. The method of expanding metal sheets havin inclined rows of staggered slits arrange in, panels between unslitted strips and forming inclined rows of strands and integral connecting bonds, which consists in drawing apart the portions of the unslitted strips at the sides of each panel by twisting such portions about longitudinal axes and in opposite directions from the plane of the panel, then twisting the strips back toward the general'plane of the sheetand laterally spreading the same in'such lane.

26. The method of expan ing metal sheets havin inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming inclined rows oi strands and integral connecting bonds, which consists in continuously advancing each sheet and progressivel drawing apart the portions of the unslitte strips at the sides of each panel by twisting such portions about longitudinal axes. a

27. The method of expanding metal sheets oppositely 4, inclined,-

and forming inclined rows of strands and integral connecting bonds and with the rows in adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in drawing apart the margins of each of the panels by forming the un slitted strips into V-shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet, then flattening and simultaneously laterally spreading the ribbed strips while maintaining the same substantially in the original plane of the sheet.

29. The method of expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming rows of strands and integral connecting bonds with the rows in adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in efiecting the expansion of the slitted panels by forming the unslitted strips at the sides of each panel into deep ribs projecting in opposite directions from the plane of the panel, then flatteningcand laterally spreading the ribbed strips in the general plane of the sheet.v

30. The method of expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming rows of strands and integral connecting bonds with the rows of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists in continuously advancing each sheet and progressively drawing the margins of each panel apart by forming the unslitted strips into deep substantially V-shaped ribs that project alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet.

31. The method of expanding metal'sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming. rows of strands and integral connecting bonds with the rows of adjacent panels oppositely inclined, which consists 32. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets having inclined rows of staggered slits arranged in panels between unslitted strips and forming inclined rows of strands and integral connecting bonds and comprising cooperating feeding and forming rolls arranged to engage the unslitted strips between the panels to continuously advance the sheet and progressively twist the portions of the strips adjacent the sides of each panel about longitudinal axes and in opposite directions from the plane of the panel, and additional sets of feeding rolls and deflecting guides for subsequently flattening' the strips and laterally spreading the same substantially in the original plane of the sheet.

33. Apparatus for expanding metal sheets havin inclined rows of staggered slits arrange in panels between unslitted strips and forming inclined rows of strands and integral connecting bonds with the rows in adjacent panels oppositely inclined, and comprising sets of feeding and forming rolls arranged to engage the unslitted strips to continuously advance each sheet and progressively form the strip into deep substantially V-shaped ribs projecting alternately in opposite directions from the general plane of the sheet and additional rolls and deflecting guides for flattening and laterally spreading the ribbed strips.

JAMES H. DEAN. 

